“Never turn your back on the unknown, for you never know what may lurk behind you”

~

The Historic Eastern State Penitentiary is world famous for many things. The revolutionary design, revolutionary style of incarceration, brutal mental torture of inmates, having the most famous mobster of all time in their custody, daring escapes, intimidating looks, ghost stories and their Halloween fundraiser, “Terror Behind The Walls”, are things that have taken this prison from a Philadelphia neighborhood to the world stage. Despite these things, Eastern State Penitentiary holds many secrets most do not stop to inquire about. 220,000 visitors pass through the massive gates each year. Most see the façade for what it is but never dive deeper into the rooms that no one sees. The catwalk in Cellblock 7 is the most photographed site in the prison. Anyone that takes any photo inside, all stand on the catwalk, looking down the long cellblock past the skylights to the second story window and snap the cliché picture. There is one rule inside any haunted location: Never turn your back on the unknown, for you never know what may lurk behind you.

While standing on the same catwalk, if you simply turn around, you will find three rooms surrounding you. Decrepit and useless in appearance, these rooms once served important purposes. The first room on the left, was once the Radio Room. I can just imagine what news and information were communicated within. The room on the right served as an Officer’s Room. At least one of the many officers here who patrolled these cellblocks with wool socks over their shoes, lived in this very room.

In May 1861, The Library was relocated to The Room At The End of Cellblock 7. An aristocratic room I have no doubt. It was reported to have “handsome fixtures” by The Prison Society. In 1893, the space was divided between a library and an apothecary. By the 1940’s the library was relocated. It is unknown what this room was used for during the prison’s final years.

** Special thanks to the wonderful staff at Eastern State Penitentiary for their assistance in research.